Aug

Complicated Reactions to Moody-Adams’ Resignation

While we are still waiting for official comment from the University administration, we have received multiple confirmations from a wide spectrum of students, alumni, and faculty that Michele Moody-Adams has resigned as Dean of Columbia College, and that the news was sudden, unexpected, and as of yesterday afternoon, a complete surprise to many administrators, up to the executive vice-presidential level. There are indications that the resignation is symptomatic of significantly larger disagreements between the university and its constituent schools.

The Student Affairs Committee of the USenate sent out the following press-release at 3 am, which does not support Moody-Adams’ decision or provide any context, but assures us that the SAC will remain strong.

Update, 10:05 pm: Shollenberger confirmed Moody-Adams’ resignation in an email to Columbia College students. KevSho stresses his commitment to maintaining dialogue with students: “In order to update students on the evolving transition, in the coming days, I plan to schedule meetings with student leaders and relevant senior administrators.”

Update, 3:11 pm: The CCSC exec board issued another statement in response to the resignation. The board promises to “delve into the circumstances surrounding” the resignation and keep the student body updated on its findings.

All statements after the jump.

Statement from Dean Shollenberger

Dear Columbia College Students,

As some of you may have read in today’s campus news, Michele Moody-Adams, who has served as Dean of Columbia College and Vice President for Undergraduate Education for the last two years, has resigned, effective immediately. The senior leadership of the College and the University are working together to make this transition period as smooth as possible.

In order to update students on the evolving transition, in the coming days, I plan to schedule meetings with student leaders and relevant senior administrators.

As we continue our work in enhancing student life here at Columbia, we are committed to carrying on with many of the student-centered initiatives started by Dean Moody-Adams.

We look forward welcoming you all for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shollenberger

Statement from CCSC re: Dean Moody-Adams

In response to the events that have occurred within the past 24 hours regarding the resignation of Dean Moody-Adams as Dean of Columbia College and President Bollinger’s acceptance of said resignation, the Executive Board of the Columbia College Student Council (CCSC) would like to issue the following statement.

We want to take this opportunity to affirm to you, the student body, that we are first and foremost committed to promoting and securing the well-being of student life on this campus. Under that directive, we are actively seeking answers to and delving into the circumstances surrounding Moody-Adams’resignation. This move by the administration will have a definitively significant impact on students within and without CC, and we intend to do what is necessary to understand what has transpired and maintain the integrity of this institution. As the situation progresses, we will continue to explore what this means for our school and its role within the university as a whole.

We would like to express our gratitude to Dean Moody-Adams and our appreciation for her work in supporting students and faculty within CC: she has been a firm advocate for her constituents in her time here.

Through the coming days and weeks, we will keep you apprised of any details we learn, especially as they pertain to the current plan to select an Interim Dean. As always, we want to hear your thoughts and concerns. Please email the board at ccsc@columbia.edu with any comments or questions.

NEW YORK, August 22, 2011 — The Student Affairs Committee (SAC) of the Columbia University Senate appreciates the dedication to students shown by Dean of Columbia Collegeand Vice President for Undergraduate Education Michele Moody-Adams and is saddened to learn of her resignation.

SAC is a representative body for all Columbia University students and strives to be an advocatefor student interests. Co-Chairs Alex Frouman, CC ’12, and Adil Ahamed, MBA ’12, areactively working with the Committee, student constituencies, and leaders in the administration to ensure that the SAC is fulfilling its role on campus.

“Dean Moody-Adams has been a strong and engaged supporter of student interests at Columbia,and we are disappointed that future students will not have the opportunity to benefit from her leadership as the Dean of Columbia College,” said Frouman.

Dean Moody-Adams’s role as both a dean and a vice president extends beyond Columbia College and has an impact on the lives of students across many of the University’s schools. The SAC, as the only university governance body with student representation from all schools, will continue to fulfill its mandate of advocating for student interests, academic excellence, and thequality of the educational experience.

“The resignation of a major Columbia dean, such as that of Columbia College, affects the entirestudent body, and the Student Affairs Committee will work with all stakeholders, especiallyrelevant student leaders, on common next steps,” said Ahamed.